INHABITANTS OF THE POGGY ISLANDS. 8^ 



Such are the cuftoms and manners of the inhabi- 

 tants of the Foggy iflands which lie within light of 

 Sumatra. The many particulars in which they differ 

 from any fet of inhabitants of the latter ifland put it in 

 ray opinion beyond a doubt that they are of a different 

 origin, but from whence they came it may not be eafy, 

 and probably will not be thought of importance, tu 

 trace. They have no clear tradition to affift in fucU 

 an enquiry. When Mr. Best was at their vil- 

 lage, on afking from wlience rhey originally came, 

 they told him from the fun, which he underftood as 

 fignifying from the caftward. 



As the founds which exprefs ideas are arbitrary, and 

 it not being probable that people who have never had 

 communication fhould hit upon the lame founds to 

 exprefs the fame ideas, affinity in language may be 

 conlidered as one of the fureft indications of famench 

 of origin; but even in judging from this criterion, a 

 variety of circumftances may render us liable to error. 

 I have however fubjoined a pretty copious fpetimen ot 

 the language of the Poggy iflands. 



But another circumdance, which I think might af- 

 lift in tracing the origin of thefe people, is the figures 

 ufed in tattooing their bodies ; for as all the men ^v.t 

 marked according to the fame pattern nearly, if any 

 people lliould be difcovered among whom this cultcni 

 prevails, and wliofe bodies are tattooed, generally, 

 with figures of the fame kind, it would afford no llight 

 prefumption of a common origin. I have therelorq 

 accompanied this account with a Iketch of a man and 

 a woman of thefe iflands, as alfo a drawing of th#in- 

 ftruments ufed in making thefe marks ; the execution 

 greatly needs an apology; but I am no draughtfman, 

 and can only anfiver for the exa61:ncfs with which I 

 copied thefe rigures, « 



I HAD 



